Hook for cots or hammocks



(No Model.)

0 ST J MOREE HOOK FOR COTS OR HAMMOGKS..

No. 499,644. Patented June 13, 1893.

NITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES ST. J. MOREE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

HOOK FOR COTS .OR HAMMOCKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 499,644, dated June13, 1893. Application filed November 25, 1892. Serial No. 453,084- (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES ST. J. MCREE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Germantown, Philadelphia, in the county ofPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Hooks for (lots or Hammocks or the Like; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a hook, catch or fastener for use withhammocks, cots, swing beds and other things that require to be supportedor upheld at one or more points, and for other purposes, it beingespecially designed and adapted for adjustment to and connection withvarious kinds of bulb-beams, so called,or similar structural shape ofmetal or wood as commonly found or used in ships, bridges, buildings,&c., the object of the invention being to provide a hook which isportable, easily detachable and readily applied for use and one which issimple, strong and cheap, consisting of a few easily made parts and veryefiective in practice for the use intended, it being susceptible ofpractical application in a great variety of ways by having commonstructural features, as I shall hereinafter fully specify, and theinvention therefore consists in the construction, arrangement andcombination of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter described andthen more particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention: Figure l is aside elevation of my improved hook or clamp made in double form andshown as practically employed in engagement with a T-bulb beam. Fig. 2is an end elevation of the jaw shown in Fig. 1, with the hook properremoved. Fig. 3 is a view of a modified form of my clamp, the same beingchanged to suit it to apply to an angle bulb beam. Fig. 4 representsanother modification of my improved hook, the same being constructed soas to adapt it for the purpose of running portable or temporary wires,pipes, attaching hoisting gear or performing similar functions. Fig. 5is a modified form of the clamp represented in Fig. 4, the same havingbeen changed to adapt it for use with an angle bulb beam instead of witha T bulb beam which is shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is another modificationof the device for the purpose of applying it to an angle bulb beam, thejaw in this instance having a hook or hooks cast thereon and beingsupported by means of a key or wedge which engages the beam. Fig. 7 isanother modification of the device applied to a bulb angle beam. Fig. 8is another modification of the device as applied to a bulb angle beam,the jaw in this instance having a removable book which enters a slot andacts as a clamp against the beam.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutall the different figures of the drawings.

In iron and steel ships wherein my invention is particularly designedand intended for use, the metallic beams supporting the vari ous decksare usually of the types known as T-bulb beams or angle bulb beams.

In the drawings A denotes a beam of the T-bulb 9 form and A a beam ofthe angle bulb form, both being shown in section in said drawings. Inmany cases it is desirable to swing a cot or hammock in places wherefixed hooks either were not provided, or if provided would have beenobjectionable. In order therefore that the cot, hammock or other bed maybe supported in any desired place between the various decks of the shipwithout the use of the fixed hooks alluded to, it becomes necessary toprovide some kind of a clamping device which can be readily engaged withthe bulb beam or some equivalent suitable part having a similarprotuberance or enlargement around which a jaw may grasp and bite with asufficient hold to permit the cot or hammock attached thereto to besupported safely with its contained weight. Therefore the inventionprimarily proposes to provide a clamping hook for engaging bulb beams onboard ship or in any other suitable locality, but yet it will beobserved that I do not intend to restrict my invention to such a use orpurpose but reserve the liberty of employing it wherever it can bepractically applied with value and utility. I conceive that it can beused with structural shapes of various kinds and patterns, in variousplaces and I am confident also that the hook or clamp will be found ofvalue, not only for the purpose of upholding cots, hammocks and the likebut also for supporting hoisting mechanisms, Wires, cables, weights andin fact it may be put to a multitude of different uses for which it willbe found in practice. Therefore I reserve to myself the widest possibleliberty of application in the use of theinvention. The T-bulb beam A andthe bulb angle beam A are given here merely as examples of structureswith which the clamp or hook may be engaged Referring to Fig. 1, Bdenotes a U-shaped jaw or saddle piece of any desired size, having acurved lower part which partially surrounds and conforms in shape to thebulb of the bulb beam and having also the vertical parallel uprightsprojecting upward for a short distance alongside of the bulb and alsothe web of the beam so that the saddle piece consequently occupies adepending position relatively to the beam. This saddle piece 15 has itsvertical parallel uprights bifurcated,

slotted or cleft at b b, as shown in Fig. 2, for the purpose of enablingthe hooks c to be pivoted therein as indicated in Fig. 1. These hooks care formed on their inner ends with projections C O which are situatedinside of the jaw B, and are so shaped like cams with rounded edges asto fit securely in the bosom of the bulb of the beam, after the clampingdevice has been located in place, the shape of the hook beingconsequently such that the strain thereon resulting from the downwardpull of the hammock or other article suspended thereby will tend totighten the hold of the clamp upon the beam, transferring also a portionof the strain from the jaw B to the bulb of the beam, as clearly shownin Fig. 1. The jaw B can easily be disengaged at any time from the beamby simply lifting the hooksc into the position shown in dotted lines inFig. 1, when the projections C will be thrown clear of the bulb and thejaw B will readily drop away from the bulb. It will be observedtherefore that the hooks c which are pivoted in slots in the oppositesides of the'U shaped jaw have a considerable latitude of movement fromone position into the other. They have a tendency at all times under theaction of gravity to assume the posit-ion shown in full lines in Fig. 1.Therefore they are readily engaged with the bulb beam by simply causingthe U-shaped jaw to encircle the beam, which will depress theprojections C O as said beam enters within the jaw and as the jaw seatsitself snugly around the curved base of the bulb, the projections O Cwill then fall back into close contact with the bosom of the bulb andthe hook or hooks c a will then be in normal position to receiveanything which may be suspended thereon. A very tight and secure clampis thus pro vided, one which is easily applied and is readilydisengaged. It will be observed that it consists essentially of a fewsimple elements, to wit, a U-shaped jaw and a catch or clamp arrangedtherewith for the purpose of acting as a wedge to hold the jaw upon thebeam. In the particular example of the invention shown in Fig. 1, as Ihave already described, there are two hooks c c which admit consequentlyof the attachment of the ends of two hammocks at substantially the samepoint on the beam.

In Fig. 3,the invention is shown as applied to a bulb angle beam A. Bdenotes the form of U-shaped jaw shown in this figure, said jaw beingsomewhat smaller than the jaw B, shown in Fig. 1. Jaw B is slotted onlyon one side instead of on both sides as in Fig. 1.

In this slot is pivoted the hook 0, having the inner projection C, saidhook being the same as that shown in Fig. 1, and the projection O actingin the same manner with the beam as it does in Fig. 1, fitting neatlyand securely into the bosom of the bulb. The opposite side of the jaw Bhas an integral or rigid hook instead of a pivoted hook.

In Figs. 4, and 5, I have represented modifications of the device forrunning portable or temporary wires, pipes, or attaching hoisting gearor sustaining other articles and performing various other functions toonumerous to mention, for all of which the device will be pre eminentlyadapted. therefore I do not use any hooks proper, but I employ pivotedclamps O which are similar in shape and function to the projections 0formed on the inner ends of the hook c, in Figs. 1 and 3. In fact theclamp O is the same as the clamp in Figs. 1 and 3, with the omission ofthe hook c, said hook not being needed in the modifications shown inFigs. 4, 5, because the engagement of the device with the supportedstructure is accomplished in a diflerent way. In Fig. 4, B denotes theU-shaped clamp which has an angular base for holding the tube P or suchother articles as may be attached thereto. The jaw 13 has its oppositesides bifurcated in the same manner as the jaw B in Fig. 1, the clamp 0'being pivoted between these bifurcations and said clamps act inengagement with the bosom of the bulb to permit a firm engagement of thejaw to the latter, said bulb in the present instance, shown in Fig. 4,being a T-bulb. In Fig. 5, the jaw 13 is similar to jaw 13*, except thatit is bifurcated on one side only and has only one of the clamps G, andone only being needed because the device is applied to a bulb angleinstead of to a T bulb beam as is clearly shown.

In Fig. 6, I have represented an other modification as applied to a bulbangle beam, the same comprising a jaw B similar to the jaw B shown inFig. 3 and having a fixed or integral hook c on one side and dispensingwith any hook, either fixed or pivoted on the opposite side. Of courseit is obvious that the jaw B may have one or more hooks cast upon it. Itis connected to the bulb angle beam A by means of a horizontal key orwedge D which is fitted into an angular groove in one side of the jaw Band which In these figures comes into close engagement with the beamresting in the bosom of the bulb neatly as shown in this Fig. 6. Ipreferably employ a chain d attached to the wedge D and also to one sideof the jaw B for the purpose of holding the wedge when it is disengagedand keeping it from getting lost.

In Figs. 7 and 8, are shown other modifications of my device as appliedto bulb angle beams. 13 denotes the jaw shown in Fig. 7, it beingU-shaped and slotted on one side. F denotes the hook hung in said slot.This hook is provided with a slot H which is engaged by a pin it, fixedon the jaw B The hook F also has at its upper inner end a pin f and aprojection f which when the hook is in normal position is in contactwith the bosom of the bulb. The slot H permits the hook F to be liftedsufficiently far up to allow the pin fto pass over the top of the jaw sothat the hook F may occupy the position shown in dotted lines where itis entirely disengaged and freed from the beam. When the hook is thrownback into the position shown in full lines, the pin f comes intoengagement with the vertical edge of the jaw B on the one side thereofand the projection f comes into engagement with the bosom of the bulb ofthe beam and the result is that a firm and close connection is madebetween the jaw E the hook F and the beam.

In Fig. 8 B denotes the jaw which is U- shaped and has one side providedwith a square hole to receive the hook G, carrying on its inner enda pingand having said inner end shaped at 9 suitable to come into neat andclose contact with the bosom of an angle beam so that a firm and closeengagement of the device with the bulb angle beam may thereby beefiected. For the pin g any other suitable equivalent catch may besubstituted when desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A hanging hook or clamp for objects to be supported, consisting inthe combination of the U-shaped saddle piece which is adapted for use inconnection with a bulb beam or similar structural shape from which itdepends, said saddle piece having its lower part curved to conform inshape to the base of the bulb around which it fits and having alsoparallel upright parts and a movable mounted catch in one of theuprights, having an inner cam shaped projection which is adapted tooperate upon the bosom of the bulb and thereby prevent removal of thesaddle piece from the beam except when the movable catch is disengaged.

2. A hanging hook, or clamp for objects to be supported, consisting inthe combination of a U-shaped saddle piece which is adapted for use inconnection with a bulb beam or similar structural shape from which itdepends, said saddle piece having its lower part curved to conform inshape to the base of the bulb around which it fits and having alsoparallelupright parts, and a pivoted piece in one of the uprights havingits upper portion formed as a hook and its inner portion formed as acam-shaped projection which is adapted to bear upon the bosom of thebulb, substantially as described.

3. A hook or clamp for cots, hammocks or other objects to be supportedconsisting in the combination of a U-shaped saddle piece adapted for usein connection with a bulb beam from which it depends, said saddle piecehaving its lower part curved to conform to the base of the bulb beamaround which it fits and also having vertical uprights and pivotedpieces supported in said uprights said pieces having their outer endsformed with hooks and their inner ends with cam-shaped projectionsadapted to rest on the bosom of the bulb, all arranged so that thesaddle piece may be attached to the beam when the hooks are in theirnormal position, but may be disengaged therefrom by lifting the hooks,substantially as described.

4. A hanging hook or clamp for objects to be supported consisting in thecombination of a U-shaped saddle piece adapted for use in connectionwith a bulb beam from which it depends, said saddle piece having itslower part curved to conform to the base of the bulb around which itfits and having vertical uprights, an integral hook on one of saiduprights and a pivoted hook supported in the other upright and having aninner camshaped projection which rests upon the bosom of the bulb of thebeam when the hook is in its normal position, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES ST. J. MCREE.

Witnesses:

J OHN F. HANSOOM, E. E. MoOLYMoNT.

